Can opener



May 8, 1945.

s. BLOOMFIELD can OPENER Filed Oct. 14, 1944 -INVENTOR. M wmde/ 25/00/71 4'! MX y Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT orncs CAN OPENER.

Samuel Bloomfield, Chicago, Ill. Application October 14, 1944, Serial No. 558,704

3 Claims. (Cl. 30-22) operate with the blade in cutting or severing the top of the can. i

To complete the invention, I provide in the thumb bearing plate l9 an aperture 2! which will be compact in construction, facilitating the placing of the opener in the pocket of the user when not in use and one which permits convenient attachment to a pocket chain or the like.

Finally an object is to provide a can opener which is void of movable or hinged parts which result in weakening the otherwise rigid structure of the opener.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the can opener embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the can opener is formed; and

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the can opener.

The drawing illustrates the preferred form of construction by which the several objects of the invention are accomplished.

In this respect, referring particularly to Fig. 2, a blank of material is indicated at Ill. This blank may be of such material as will best serve the purpose and includes a medial portion II having a semi-circular head l2 joined by a webbing l3 to a similarly shaped lateral extension I4.

This extension is folded back upon the head 12 in spaced relation thereto and constitutes the blade of the can opener. This blade is provided with a knife edge I 5 On the edge '8 of the blank l0 there is provided an elongated strip I! which is bent sub stantially at right angles with respect to the medial portion H to provide substantial bearing surface in the form of a flange which is adapted to bear against the index finger of the hand 'when the opener is used to open a can or sever the top from such can.

The opposite edge 18 of the medialportion II also provides an elongated strip I!) which is bent substantially at right angles with respect to such medial portion in a direction opposite to the direction of bending of the flange I1. The strip it provides a bearing plate for the thumb of the hand when the can opener is in use.

Formed in the edge 16 between the flange l1 and at the base of the blade I is a notch 20 adapted to receive the rim of the can and oopermits attachment of the can opener to a pocket chain or the like.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a can opener which is substantially simple in construction, one which dispenses with the usual hinged parts which serve to weaken the opener and which parts interfere with the carrying of the can opener upon the person.

'While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A can opener formed of a single sheet of material bent to provide a blade in spaced parallel relation with respect to the medial portion of said sheet, and spaced finger bearing flanges on opposite edge portions of said medial portion and extending in opposite directions withreszpect to each other, said medial portion having a notch formed therein, for the reception of the rim or bead of a can.

2. A can opener formed of a single sheet of material bent to provide a blade in spaced parallel relation with respect to themedial portion of said sheet, and spaced finger bearing flanges-on opposite edge portions of said medial portion and extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, said medial portion having a notch formed therein between the blade and one of said bearing flanges for the reception of a rim or bead of a can.

3. A can opener formed of a single sheet of material bent to provide a blade in spaced parallel relation with respect to the medial portion of said sheet, a finger engaging flange formed on one edge of the medial portion and bent sub stantially at right angles with respect thereto, a thumb engaging flange formed on an opposite edge of said medial portion and bent substantially at right angles with respect thereto and in a direction opposite to that of the finger engaging flange, said medial portion having a notch formed therein adjacent said blade adapted to receive the rim or bead of a can to provide a fulcrum for the opener when in can cutting engagement.

- SAMUEL BLOOMFIELD. 

